Lessons With Golf's Longest Hitter

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Pick Up The Heel !!

I went back to my mission statement and recalled that I started the blog because I was quite upset at those who were espousing incorrect versions of what Mike Austin taught and claiming that they had figured it out or had taken lessons from Mike (more likely one lesson) and consequently could enlighten Mike Austin fans as to what the great man taught.

Prime example – Here is a student shifting his weight by rolling between the insides of the ankles.

Mike Austin’s response? “Pick up the heel! Pick up the heel!”

To teach otherwise and call it Mike Austin, is, as Mike would say, “A bunch of crap”. Note too, Mike explaining the benefit of a narrow stance enabling you to work with the hips. With a wide stance you are working “against the hips”.

13 thoughts on “Pick Up The Heel !!”

Hey Chuck, I had a good day today golfing. A new guy I have not played with before said he got a new 3wood, a rocketballz by taylormade. he said the facts and research says it flies the ball 17 yards farther, and so he will hit his three wood about 250 yards. He did just that! And he thought he killed it. Then I got on the tee box with my old 3wood, and the best drive of my life with that club, 310 yards straight down the middle. No lie, no joke. When we drove up to his ball, he was waiting for me to hit my ball. I told him I’m further down the fairway. After he hit his ball we kept driving forward and forward and could not find my ball. It was 70 yards in front of his. All I can say is I am going to devote all my practice time continually perfecting the MA swing per your guidance. I have solid results and am seeing low scores. People actually study and watch me hit the ball now. MA is the stuff! I will try not to clutter up your website posts with my exhuberance and enthusiasm but I have a killer swing that seems to get better as time goes by. Many thanks Chuck for all you have done.

Hi Abe, You came to the right place for MA instruction. I have been studying Chuck’s videos over and over and over and over. It has helped me, listen to Chuck! Ive got power and accuracy, and its still getting better as I keep working at it.
Hey Chuck, I’ve studied your videos so much now that while at the range today I could not help notice most other golfers have a lousy pivot and awkward ankle/knee/hip action. And of course below average results. Its interesting now how Im able to really focus in on how the MA mechanics work. Thank you again for your time and effort sharing your MA instruction and experiences here!

Chuck, you have an excellent blog and I’m looking forward to the member site!
I have a question regarding the feet being 12″ apart. Is the Austin way 12″ from inside the left heel to inside right heel or left toe to right toe (considering there is toe flair)? I am assuming it is 12″ from inside the left heel to inside the right heel, but assumptions are dangerous:) — Thanks again for posting VERY helpful clips and tips!

Hi Chuck, thanks for a great site! I have a couple of cuestions. How was your game when you first met Mike and how did it develop under the time you practiced with him? And a cuestion about the back swing. When your at the top of your BS, is your weight on the inside of your right foot, with the right leg leaning towards the target a bit. I get a feeling im swaying my hips a bit. Thanks/ Ulf

Oh, and I forgot. I have said it before but that was the beauty of a Mike Austin lesson.
He told me that he used purposesly use sounds (raised voice, grunting, even salty language) to reinforce the lesson point he was making. It resonates with you even years after the lesson. Glad to have you guys share in the experience.

Awesome! So true. The pivot not only supplies power, it’s supplies rhythm – like dancing. I have to try to dig up a clip I have of Mike teaching the pivot to an on-looker at the next stall of the range. She was a former dancer in LA. A big smile appeared on her face when she realized that golf could be like dancing. And, of course, she picked up up with seconds.

Now, when you take that idea and resultant rhythm to the course, the game becomes a lot more enjoyable.
Best.

Hit balls today with “pick up the heel” ringing in my head. A great reminder and I was hitting them so well. The pivot (done right) sets up so much of the swing that the rest is easy but there are so many different “Mike Austin pivots” doing the rounds its great to hear/learn it from the man himself.

You got it. I can literally here Mike screaming at some of the things that I hear preached. I owe it to him.
I looked at the photo. Yes, his right hip is turning and it’s open at the time of the hit and opening/turning further after that. I have seen hundreds of hours of tape and hundreds of hours of Mike giving instruction. Still shots are often problematic. The camera angles can be odd. More importantly, you aren’t seeing the motion.
Look at the last photo. His hips have turned around a lot. Others want you to believe that the hips didn’t move and all of a sudden they turned that far after the hit?! Review all of the prior video posts – the right hip and thigh “are the engine of the swing”.
Hope that helps.

This blog reveals the true, never before released, secrets of golf's longest hitter, Mike Austin. It is the accumulation of hundreds of hours of taking and observing lessons directly with Mike. These are the keys to unlocking effortless power in your golf swing. Enjoy!